Page 27 - The Mark of the Beast

Genesis 3:14
“On your belly you will go, and dust you will eat all the days of your life...”

There is great symbolism here. The words, “On your belly you shall go” signifies that
the beast nature will live for the fulfillment of the natural appetites. What is it that the beast
nature desires, and what are its appetites? Food, sex, fame, riches, ease, pleasure, worldly
goods, power and a host of other such things. None of these things are inherently evil, but
they become evil when they are that for which the creation pursues, hungers and thirsts.
God’s will is that mankind would seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness while
allowing God to choose how and when to supply mankind’s needs. Yahshua spoke in this
way:

Matthew 6:31-33
“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will
we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your
heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and
His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

What is expressed in these words is the contentedness of those who live to do the will
of the Father. Doing God’s will is the foremost priority of their lives, and they care not for
the things of this world. They do not need houses and lands and cars and many material
goods. They are not worried about the care of their physical body, for they understand that
the One who fashioned man’s body already knows their needs and He will certainly provide
according to His great wisdom, love and power. They understand that if they give
themselves to the pursuit of the Kingdom of God that Yahweh will take care of their needs.
Those who are subject to the serpent do not know the contentedness of doing the
Father’s will. Of the serpent we read that he was cursed to eat dust all the days of his life.
The flesh of man was formed from the dust of the earth. These words of judgment upon the
serpent symbolically speak of an appetite for that from which the flesh was formed, and for
all of the sins of the flesh.

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,
factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these...

The serpent was cursed to be ruled by its belly and to eat of the things of the flesh.
When a Christian gives himself to the things mentioned in the list above, it is certain that
they are allowing the beast nature to be manifested in them. Many men, even those who
name the name of Christ, are ruled by this nature.

Philippians 3:18-19
For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that
they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is
their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

Paul surely had the serpent in mind when he penned these words, for he speaks of the